Economic, Legal and Technological Facets of the European Union's Regional Policies in a Networked World

• Author: Daj, A.
• Position: Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Relations, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 189-196

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 7 (56) No. 2 - 2014

ECONOMIC, LEGAL AND

TECHNOLOGICAL FACETS OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S REGIONAL

POLICIES IN A NETWORKED WORLD

Alexis DAJ1

Abstract: The immediate and future realities of a globalised and networked

knowledge society based on information gathering and sharing impose a

broader and more complex analysis of the economic, juridical and

technological aspects related to a future proof and efficient development of

regional policies in the European Union. In this context, the article identifies

and presents new requirements and constraints for the design of EU regional

policies from a multidisciplinary perspective. Thus, the problems related to

decentralisation and the modern relational nature of “social geography” are

tackled and connected to technological trends in the field of electronic

communications regulation and development.

Key words: EU Regional Policies, Sustainable Economic Development,

Decentralisation, Electronic Communications Regu lation, Networked World.

1 Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Relations, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Introduction

Over the past three decades, information

technology (IT) has infiltrated all levels of

human society, states, regions and cities,

reshaping built environments, social

networks, and citizens’ connection to the

governance ecosystem.

Although the new technological paradigm

generates a multidimensional process of

structural transformation, the majorit y opinion

is that “technology does not determine society:

it is society. Society shapes technology

according to the needs, values, and interests of

people who use the technology” [2].

Nevertheless, technology is a necessary (even

though not sufficient) condition for the

appearance of a new form of social

organization based on the implementation of

networking in all fields of activity through

digital communication networks - generating

the Network Society, the social struc ture

“resulting from the interaction between the

new technological paradigm and social

organization at large”. [2]

In the process of designing regional

policies, academics working in the fields

of geography and economics study how

economic agglomerations arise, how they

interrelate with other clusters worldwide,

and what are the implications of these

changes for peripheral areas. [15]

2. Significance of Space for Regional

Policy Design in the EU

While economists promote spatially-

blind policies, geographers advocate the

role of place as a key determining factor in

regional policy-making.